Cloth roll support means for looms



Aug. 2, 1955 G. cADoRET-rs ETAL 2,714,404

CLOTH ROLL SUPPORT MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed May 5, 1954 I N V EN TOR.`

,if s GEORGE CQDOQETTE BYHAQEY WILLlaM THATCHEP.

A TTORNE Y United States Patent CLTH RGLL SUPPORT MEANS FOR LOOMS George Cadorette, Hopedale, and Harry William Thatcher, Meudon, Mass., assignors to The Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application May 5, 1954, Serial No.` 427,720

3 Claims. (Cl. 139-304) This invention pertains to looms for weaving, and more particularly to means forming a part of said looms for supporting a cloth roll in operative position, for facilitating the installation of a roll in the loom and for aiding in dofling and handling the roll after cloth has been wound thereon.

lt is a general object of the invention to incorporate in looms a simple and effective means for supporting a cloth roll in winding position and so to devise such means that the roll may be quickly and easily installed in Winding position, and to provide cooperating mechanism for assisting in releasing and dofng the roll' after a considerable weight of cloth has been wound on it.

A more speciiic object of the invention is that of providing cloth roll supports into which ends of the roll may be inserted, which will drive one end of the roll, and when the roll is forced axially from the driving support, will release it first at that end and then at the opposite end.

Another object is that of providing track means onto which the roll moves when released and by which it is supported in a position forwardly of the loom `while being defied.

It is a further object to devise a means by which the loom attendant may release the roll, for example, by foot pressure on a pedal, and to constitute the releasing means as a supporting device as well.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

ln looms for weaving the fabric is passed over a takeup roller or other means adapted to draw it at a fixed rate and to advance it on toward a cloth roll which is rotated in some convenient manner for winding up that fabric until a roll of prescribed diameter has been formed whereupon the roll and material may be removed from the loom. In some instances the cloth roll has been borne upon gudgeons one at least of which` is positively driven and which therefore rotates the fabric roll to wind the material as fast as it is woven. In many instances these gudgeons or other supporting and driving means for the cloth roll have been slid axially into and from engagement with the roll and driving of the roll has been effected by some sort of interconnection by which torque transmitted to a gudgeon is also conveyed through to the roll.

While various means have heretofore been devised for facilitating the removal of these rolls and cloth thereon, it has generally been the practice in weaving plants to release the roll after suitable conveying means has been placed beneath the cloth and to handle the material more or less awkwardly or inefliciently in that a great deal of manual effort has been required. New that it has become practical to wind much larger rolls of material than were at one time considered advisable, it is necessary to provide for easy release of the roll from its supporting and driving means, and also to control it so it may at all times be safely held and guided with little effort into a position to be loaded for transporting from the loom to storage or subsequent treatment.

2,714,404 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 ice According to the invention hereinafter described in greater detail, a cloth roll, preferably having reduced ends is held at one end in a rotating support driven through any convenient means which provides for slip thereby to compensate for the increase in diameter of the cloth gathered thereon. The endl of the roll thus held is positively engaged to receive a driving impulse. The opposite end of the roll is received within a freely rotatable gudgeon or the like, which is spring pressed to a position such that the roll may not unintentionally become disengaged.

At this latter end of the roll a fixed track member is positioned with slight clearance from the roll and beneath its end so that as soon as released it will drop to this track member to be rolled forwardly into a safe place for easy dofng.

At the dri-ven end of the roll a combined support and disengaging means comprises a lever pivoted beneath the roll end for swinging in the axial plane of the roll. This` lever is preferably foot actuated having a pedal at its lower end and at its upper end adjacent the roll is formed with a tracklike supporting portion the contour of which is similar to the track at the opposite end of the roll. The lever is employed in a manner hereinafter described for the purpose of pushing the roll axially to release its That end of the roll with the cloth on it may be rolled forwardly after which the opposite end will slide from its socket in the freely rotating gudge eon member temporarily latched as will be explained more fully.

The invention will be described in detail by reference` to the figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a loom to which the invention has been applied.

Figl. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the mechanism of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a section at line 3-3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the roll supporting means at the right hand side of the loom.

Fig. 5 is a section taken at line 5-5, Fig. l, and a detail view of the latching means of Fig. 4.

Now referring to Fig. 1, the invention is shown applied to a loom having loomsides 10 and 11, a lower girt 12 and breast beam 13. A take-up roll of any suitable type is positively driven to advance the woven fabric at a` prescribed speed from which the fabric is wound up on a cloth roll 14. As employed here this cloth roll is preferably fabricated as a tube with a plug in its end, each of which really constitutes a reduced end of the roll. These ends 15 and 16 are preferably tapered as shown, that at the left side of the loom being held in a correspondingly tapered bore of a supporting and driving hub 17. This hub is a part of a hand wheel 18 to which is anchored a clutch band 19 in releasable, frictional driving relationship with a drum or sheave 20. The drumV 20 is positively rotated by periodic motion of a pick wheel 21 and a gear train housed in casing 22. Driving torque is transmitted through band 19 to the Wheel 18 and its hub 17 and provides a slip drive which winds the fabric under a suitable tension and also compensates for the increase in size of the wound package. Hub 17 is fixed on the end of a shaft freely rotatable in a hollow shaft or sleeve to which drum 20 is fixed. The sleeve is positively driven, but the shaft for hub 17 merely rotates in the sleeve as a bearing. The specific and detailed form which the driving means for the supporting and roll driving hub 17 takes is not a part of the instant invention and no further description need be given here. t

Hub 17 has a pin 23 passing through its centrally` bored opening which engages with a notch or groove in.

3 the end 15 of the cloth roll which makes the roll, when inserted, rotate with and at the same speed as the hub.

At the opposite or right hand side of the loom, Figs. l, 4 and 5, the roll end 16 is received within a freely rotating gudgeon which is resiliently maintained in an operative position in a bracket 24 bolted to the loomside 11. This bracket has an inwardly directed hub 25 in which a gudgeon 26 is free to rotate and to slide endwise as limited by means presently to be described.

Gudgeon 26 is bored at its inner end, preferably on a taper corresponding to the taper at the roll end and permits insertion of the roll end as illustrated. The gudgeon is also bored from its outer end to receive a spring 27 held under compression by eared cap 28. When bolted in position, this cap compresses the spring and also closes oif the interior of the hub so, with an -ring or other seal 29, lubricant may be introduced, as at 30 by a grease gun or the like and retained without appreciable leakage.

Bracket 24 is formed with a shelf 31 to which is bolted an angularly bent member 32 the vertical portion of which terminates as a track 33 each end of which is curved upwardly, Fig. 5, to provide an abutment for limiting travel of the cloth roll. The rear portion 34 of the track just clears the end 16 of the roll and underlies it so when released from the gudgeon, the roll will drop to and be sustained by the track member. That part of the member also limits inward movement of the gudgeon as inuenced by spring 27. Its contour is preferably inclined forwardly so that at dofling, the roll of woven fabric may be moved forwardly of the loom thereby to position it for loading on a truck or other handling device. An upturn 35 at the forward end of the track serves to prevent unintended displacement of the roll from the track.

A detent 36 pivoted at 37 has an actuating arm 38 which also functions as a counterbalance to maintain the end 36 engaged under the gudgeon end and when the latter is pushed into the hub as it is at doffng, will latch it in that position until arm 38 is lifted to release the parts after a new roll has been inserted.

At the left end, Figs. l, 2 and 3, a lever generally indicated by numeral 39 is pivoted at 40 and comprises an upwardly directed arm 41 and an arm 42 extending in the opposite direction and terminating in a foot pedal 43. Pivot 40 is held rigidly in a bracket 44 attached to loomside and also braced by screw 45 adjustably positioned to bear on girt 12.

Arm 41 is formed with a track portion 46 similar in shape to that at the other end of the roll and positioned to underly the end of the roll. It also is in a position to press laterally against the shoulder formed by the end of the tubular roll 14 and end 15. Movement of the lever is limited by a stop screw 46 adjustably locked in position and which strikes against a lug 47 on bracket 44. Adjustment is such that the lever may swing just far enough to withdraw the roll end from hub 17.

In operation, assuming a required amount of fabric has been wound on roll 14 and is to be doffed, the attendant steps on pedal 43 and through lever 39 pressing against the shouldered portion of the roll, the latter is pushed endwise compressing spring 27 as gudgeon 26 is pushed into hub 25. Pressure is applied at the pedal until gudgeon 26 is latched by detent 36 and end 15 is free of the hub 17 The left end of the roll may be moved forwardly out of alignment with hub 17 and along the track 46 and as the roll is thereafter moved endwise its end 16 is removed from gudgeon 26. Actually, due to the taper at the roll ends and the inclination of the tracks 33 and 46, the above mentioned procedure tends to be performed more or less automatically. The roll and material wound on it are left in forward position in readiness for loading and removal to storage or further processing.

, When an empty roll is to be inserted, end 16 is entered intothe socket therefor in the end of the gudgeon 26 and the roll pushed endwise to compress spring 27 if the gudgeon is not already latched out, whereupon the left end which will then clear hub 17 is aligned with the hub opening by letting the end rest at the rear portion of the track 46. Then tripping the detent 36 will release gudgeon 26 and spring 27 to lock the roll as end 15 enters the hub 17. The taper is suiiicient so that little effort is required to align the parts. The cloth end is then attached to wind at the roll in any convenient way and with band 19 released by means not necessary to be described here, hand wheel 18 is employed to take up slack in the cloth whereupon tensioning band 19 is tightened on the drum to start the automatic winding action.

The lever 39 is preferably foot actuated, but could be so designed as to be hand operated if desired. The shape and dimensions of the parts may be widely varied without departing from the board inventive concept.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

We claim:

l. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting and rotating said cloth roll at one end and other means at the opposite end of the roll for supporting it while permitting its free rotation, said last mentioned means being axially displaceable for disengagement of the roll, a fixed track member for supporting the roll end when released, and lever means at the roll end first mentioned for moving the roll axially to disengage it from its supporting and rotating means and having a track means within which the roll end is sustained and guided when released by said axial disengaging movement.

2. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being bored to receive the roll ends, one said means being positively rotated and having driving engagement with the roll end received therein, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable and spring urged into engagement with its roll end, track means at either end of the roll for sustaining it when released, and lever means for moving said roll axially to release first the driven end and then the opposite end whereupon the roll may fall onto the track means preparatory to being doffed.

3. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being bored to receive the roll ends, one said means being positively rotated and having driving engagement with the roll end received therein, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable and spring urged into engagement with its roll end, track means at either end of the roll for sustaining it when released, and lever means for moving said roll axially to release first the driven end andV then the opposite end whereupon the roll may fall onto the track means preparatory to being doifed, said track means at the driven end of said roll forming a part of said lever.

4.- In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being bored to receive the roll ends, one said means being positively rotated andhaving driving engagement with the roll end received therein, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable and spring urged into engagement with its roll end, a fixed track means at said opposite roll end positioned to underlie the end and to support it for rolling forwardly of the loom when released, and a pedal operated lever at the driven end of said roll having at its roll engaging end a track similar in contour to the track first recited, lsaid lever being pivoted for swinging movement such that the track may be moved axially of the roll to push it endwise thereby to disengage it from its supporting and driving means, the track further functioning to sustain the roll and to permit it to be moved. forwardly of the loom for dofng.

5. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being bored to receive the roll ends, one said means being positively rotated and having driving engagement with the roll end received therein, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable and spring urged into engagement with its roll end, a fixed track means at said opposite roll end positioned to underlie the end and to support it for rolling forwardly of the loom when released, a latch member, normally inactive, but positioned to restrain said spring urged roll end support when it is pushed axially for releasing said roll, and a pedal operated lever at the driven end of said roll having at its roll engaging end a track similar in contour to the track first recited, said lever being pivoted for swinging movement such that the track may be moved axially of the roll to push it endwise thereby to disengage it from its supporting and driving means, the track further functioning to sustain the roll and to permit it to be moved forwardly of the loom for doiing.

6. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being tapered for easy engagement and disengagement with the roll ends, one said means being rotated through a slip clutch for imparting rotation to the roll, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable in a bearing and spring urged to a position in which it is maintained in overlapping engagement with its respective roll end, a track member underlying the roll end and having a forwardly inclined contour along which said roll may be moved for doflng, and a lever pivoted for movement in a plane axially of the roll and having at its end adjacent the roll a track similar in contour to that of the track aforementioned, said lever being movable for pressing the roll endwise to release the driven end whereupon the opposite end may be disengaged.

7. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is Wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being tapered for easy engagement and disengagement with the roll ends, one said means being rotated through a slip clutch for imparting rotation to the roll, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable in a bearing and spring urged to a position in which it is maintained in overlapping engagement with its respective roll end, a track member underlying the roll end and having a forwardly inclined contour along which said roll may be moved for dofting, a latch -for restraining said spring urged bearing when it is pressed to a retracted position, and a lever pivoted for movement in a plane axially of the roll and having at its end adjacent the roll a track similar in contour to that of the track aforementioned, said lever being movable for pressing the roll endwise to release the driven end whereupon the opposite end may be disengaged.

8. In a loom having a take-up roll and a cloth roll upon which fabric is wound and means for supporting said cloth roll at each end, said means being tapered for easy engagement and disengagement with the roll ends, one said means being rotated through a slip clutch for imparting rotation to the roll, the other means at the opposite end of the roll being freely rotatable in a bearing and spring urged to a position in which it is maintained in overlapping engagement with its respective roll end, a track member underlying the roll end and having a forwardly inclined contour along which said roll may be moved for doifing, and a lever pivoted for movement in a plane axially of the roll and having at its end adjacent the roll a track similar in contour to that of the track aforementioned, a depending pedal and stop means for limiting the angular movement of said lever, said lever being movable for pressing the roll endwise to release the driven end whereupon the opposite end may be disengaged and the roll and material wound thereon moved forwardly on said tracks for doing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,253,869 Nuckolls Jan. l5, 1918 1,436,542 Smith Nov. 21, 1922 1,649,612 Moore et al. Nov. 15, 1927 2,617,447 Kiessling et al. Nov, 1l, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,750 Great Britain of 1890 

